Typhoon Sinlaku Recovery Programs
Navigating Sinlaku Microgrant Program
A humanities recovery microgrant for Northern Mariana Islands residents whose projects, practices, or public cultural work were disrupted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
Designed around navigation, recovery, and public humanities: applicants explain what was disrupted, who benefits, and how a small award will help restore or sustain community-facing humanities work.
Application deadline: Submit a complete, signed application form and supporting materials online, by email as one PDF to info@nmhcouncil.org , or by hand delivery to NMHC at Springs Plaza, Gualo Rai, Saipan by 4:30 PM.
Program purpose
Support for residents navigating the recovery of humanities-based work.
The program offers financial support to adult CNMI residents whose humanities-themed project or work was disrupted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Awards help applicants resume, restore, strengthen, expand, or sustain activities that explore, preserve, interpret, document, or share human experience.
What the award can support
Expenses, materials, supplies, services, travel, or other needs that address Sinlaku-related disruption and help make the activity available to the public.
How awards are determined
Total program funds are $10,000. After eligibility review, available funds will be divided equally among approved applicants. Awards are anticipated between $250 and $500.
Who can apply
A simple eligibility compass.
Adult applicant
Applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
CNMI resident
Applicant must be a resident of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Sinlaku impact
Applicant demonstrates that a humanities-based activity was negatively affected by Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
Public benefit
The activity must be for nonprofit purposes and include a public-facing component.
Key definitions
Humanities recovery, not commercial recovery.
Humanities-based activities
Practices that explore, interpret, or preserve the human experience and help us understand ourselves, shared cultural heritage, and the perspectives of others.
Public-facing activities
Activities that prioritize public engagement, collaborative knowledge-making, and civic reflection through presentations, exhibits, workshops, publications, demonstrations, cultural events, oral histories, digital content, educational programming, or similar activities.
Nonprofit purpose
Eligible activities are designed for public understanding, scholarship, cultural enrichment, or community benefit rather than primarily for commercial gain.
CNMI resident
For this program, a CNMI resident is an individual registered to vote in CNMI elections.
Application narrative
The form follows the recovery journey.
Applicants are asked to describe the activity, the community benefit, the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the nonprofit and public-facing purpose, and the proposed use and expected outcome of award funds.
Describe the activity
What do you do, how long have you done it, and what traditions, histories, languages, stories, or knowledge does it explore?
Identify public benefit
Who participates, who is served, and how does the activity engage the community or public?
Explain Sinlaku impact
What was disrupted, damaged, lost, delayed, or cancelled, and what challenges continue?
Show nonprofit purpose
How does the activity contribute to public understanding, preservation, education, culture, or community benefit?
Show public-facing work
How is the public engaged or exposed to the activity?
Describe use of funds
What expenses, materials, supplies, services, travel, or other needs would the award support?
Describe outcomes
How will the award advance, restore, strengthen, expand, or sustain the activity?
Review process
From application to award notice.
Submit a complete packet
Include the signed form and required supporting materials by the deadline.
Eligibility review
Applications are reviewed for eligibility within two weeks of the application deadline.
Award notification and payment
Successful applicants receive notice by email and a check payment after notice.
Checklist
Prepare these items.
- Government-issued photo identification card with date of birth.
- Valid CNMI voter registration card.
- Completed and signed Navigating Sinlaku Microgrant Program application form.
Submission options
Choose one route.
- Online: Complete the online form at nmhcouncil.org/sinlaku-app .
- Email: Submit one PDF to info@nmhcouncil.org .
- Hand delivery: Deliver to NMHC at Springs Plaza, Gualo Rai, Saipan by 4:30 PM, July 20.
Questions?
Contact the Northern Marianas Humanities Council at info@nmhcouncil.org or (670) 235-4785 . Office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, except holidays.
